Morocco beat South Africa 2-1 at the Estadio Moulay El Hassan in Rabat, will play in the semi-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and with that place qualified for the 2027 World Cup: the tournament awards four direct places and they go to the four semi-finalists. The hosts had five shots, put two on target and scored with both.
Both goals carry a Spanish trace. Sakina Ouzraoui, who played for Costa Adeje Tenerife until her contract ended on 30 June, opened the scoring on 31 minutes after a pass from Hanane Aït El Haj. On 52, the full-back — signed by Deportivo Alavés on 24 July — converted a penalty for 2-0.
Neither shot was one the model expected to end in a goal. Ouzraoui’s was worth 0.10 expected goals; the penalty, 0.73. Between them they account for all 1.00 of Morocco’s expected goals on target, because there was no third shot between the posts.
South Africa shot more and threatened less.
Desiree Ellis’s side had eight shots to Morocco’s five, but only two were on target and they gathered 0.33 expected goals against 1.15. They put in eighteen crosses and completed one. They were also caught offside six times; Morocco, never.
Almost all of their danger came from one player. Thembi Kgatlana took three of South Africa’s eight shots and pulled one back on 67 minutes, set up by Karabo Dhlamini. Her five shooting team-mates managed 0.16 expected goals between them.
There were more names with a Liga F past.
Yasmin Mrabet, of VCF Femenino, started for Morocco. South Africa started Hildah Magaia, who left Deportivo Abanca on 30 June, also at the end of her contract, and had one shot.
Kautar Azraf, who started Morocco’s first two matches of the tournament, stayed on the bench this time. She is 18, was born in Manresa and her only senior season was with Barcelona B in Primera Federación: she qualifies for a World Cup without having made her Liga F debut.
Morocco’s setback came on 57 minutes. Ghizlane Chebbak, the captain and one of the side’s key figures under Jorge Vilda, went off injured and was replaced by Najat Badri. She had taken one shot.
Morocco play their semi-final on Wednesday 12 against the winners of Cameroon – Nigeria. South Africa lose their direct place and drop into the play-off, their second chance to reach Brazil, which they will contest on Thursday 13 against the losers of that match. The bracket is completed on Sunday.
